Top 10 most expensive metals in the world

Many people mistakenly believe that the most expensive metals in the world are platinum, gold and silver. But in fact, there are other dense chemical elements that are hundreds of times more expensive than them. A high price is determined by indicators such as rarity, inaccessibility and properties.

10 Ruthenium | The cost of 1 gram is 1,5 US dollars

Ruthenium opens the top ten most expensive metals. The chemical element of bright silvery color is distinguished by infusibility, hardness and brittleness. Ruthenium is one of the rarest elements of the platinum group. It was first discovered by Professor Karl Klaus, who conducted research at Kazan University in 1844. The name of the element comes from the Latin Ruthenia, which means Rus’ / Russia. Ruthenium is actively used in jewelry, electronics and chemical industries.

It is used for the manufacture of electrodes, wires, contacts, etc. With the help of the element, chlorine and alkali are also obtained. The cost of 1 gram of metal is currently estimated at 1,5 US dollars.

9. Rhenium | The cost of 1 gram is 10 US dollars

The ninth place among the most expensive metals in the world is rhenium. A chemical dense element of silver-white color is also considered one of the rarest, hard-to-reach and sought-after isotopes. Due to its high density, rhenium is one of the most refractory metals. Since the discovery of the element (1925), it has been actively used in the chemical and electronic industries.

Alloys for jet engine nozzles, turbine blades, rocket technology, etc. are made from it. It is the only refractory element that does not form carbides. On average, 1 gram of rhenium is valued at $10.

8. Scandium | The cost of 1 gram is 12 US dollars

Scandium is one of the world’s most expensive metals on Earth. The silver-colored element with a yellow tint was first discovered in 1879, thanks to the Swedish scientist Lars Nilson, who named it after Scandinavia. The most valuable isotope is used in innovative technologies in the design of rockets, robots, laser technology, satellites and aircraft.

Sports equipment is made from alloys with this element. The largest deposits of scandium are concentrated in Madagascar and Norway. One gram of metal is valued at $12.

7. Iridium | The cost of 1 gram is 20 US dollars

Iridium ranks seventh among the most expensive metals in the world. The silver-white isotope resembles tin in appearance. It is very heavy, hard and at the same time fragile. Iridium is most commonly used to make alloys with other metals such as platinum. Jewelry made from this alloy is highly durable and very beautiful. Iridium is widely used in the manufacture of electrical contacts, precision chemical balances and surgical instruments.

The world learned about the metal thanks to the British chemist S. Tennat, who discovered it in 1803. Currently, about a ton of iridium is consumed annually. Its supplier is South Africa – this is where the deposit is concentrated. One gram of the isotope is valued at about $20.

6. Palladium | The cost of 1 gram is 30 US dollars

Palladium – one of the most expensive metals in the world, which belongs to the platinum group. The silvery-white isotope is characterized by fusibility and ductility. It lends itself perfectly to polishing, does not lose its luster over time and is resistant to corrosion. It was discovered by the British chemist William Wollaston in 1803. The scientist decided to separate the unknown metal from the platinum ore that arrived from South Africa.

Now palladium is actively used for making jewelry of different price categories. It is also widely used in medicine and industry due to its anti-corrosion properties. One gram of metal costs about 30 US dollars.

5. Gold | The cost of 1 gram is 45 US dollars

Gold located in the middle of the ten most expensive metals in the world. In nature, the noble isotope occurs exclusively in its pure form. Due to its ductility and durability, gold is considered one of the most popular metals used for jewelry production. In addition, it is used in the electronics industry and dentistry.

Some of the most expensive investment coins are minted from gold. The cost of 1 gram of a noble element is estimated at 45 US dollars.

4. Platinum | The cost of 1 gram is 70 US dollars

Platinum ranks fourth among the most expensive and noble metals in the world. It is a natural alloy of six isotopes that has a silvery-white hue. Platinum is one of the rarest elements. Its deposits are found mainly in Russia, the USA, China, South Africa and Zimbabwe. Platinum is used not only for the production of jewelry, but also for medical and industrial purposes.

Previously, the metal was classified as low-quality silver and was often used to fake silver and gold items. Today, 1 gram of platinum is valued at an average of $70.

3. Rhodium | The cost of 1 gram is 225 US dollars

Rhodium opens the top three most expensive metals in the world. Since it has high light reflecting abilities, it is used in the manufacture of glasses and mirrors. In addition, it is also used for the production and processing of jewelry.

Rhodium gives products shine and prevents them from darkening, thanks to its high resistance to oxidation. One gram of the isotope is currently valued at 225 US dollars.

2. Osmium-187 | The cost of 1 gram is 200 US dollars

Osmium-187 ranks second among the most expensive metals in the world. Its extraction is associated with some difficulties and takes about 9 months. One of the rarest isotopes in the form of a black fine crystalline powder is the densest substance on the planet. But despite this, the most valuable element is quite fragile.

For scientific research, osmium-187 is of great importance, as it is used as a catalyst for chemical reactions, as well as for the production of high-precision measuring instruments. The cost of 1 gram of osmium-187 is 200 thousand US dollars.

1. California-252 | The cost of 1 gram is 6,5 million US dollars

Tops the list of the most expensive metals in the world California-252. The cost of 1 gram of precious California is estimated at 6,5 million dollars. About 30-40 micrograms of the element are produced annually, which justifies its inflated price. For all time, only 8 grams of californium-252 were produced. It was first received at one of the Californian universities in 1951. Now it is being created in the laboratory using nuclear reactors in Russia and the United States.

Uniqueness isotope lies in its released energy, the power of which can be compared with an average nuclear reactor. It is actively used in medicine and nuclear physics.

With the help of California-252, malignant tumors are treated. The metal is able to detect damage in reactors and aircraft structures that X-rays could not detect. In addition, the most expensive element is used to discover new deposits of oil, gold and silver.

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